By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE BHUMJAITHAI UNDER DE FACTO party boss Newin Chidchob would likely be dissolved by court primarily due to questionable donations in cash just like an earlier case of the dissolved Future Forward, according to a noted academic.
The National Institute of Development Administration’s Political & Strategic Development Project director Pichai Ratanadilok na Phuket commented the Bhumjaithai would likely be dissolved by the Constitutional Court in foreseeable future if no double standards were otherwise applied in support of Newin’s camp pertaining to some 13 million baht in donation earlier handed to the party from the politically-connected Buri Charoen Construction Ltd. Part., shares of which were ruled by court to have been practically held by his brother/former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob.
Buri Charoen Construction is largely known as the Chidchob family’s business based in their home province of Buriram with corporate shares having been zigzagged to be in possession of one of Saksayam’s nominees under whose name the contentious 13 million baht donation had been granted to the coalition party over the past several years.
Given the Constitutional Court’s retroactive order to deprive Saksayam of his ministerial seat assumed in the time of a previous government due to his illicitly holding shares in the construction firm, Newin’s brother has recently resigned as Bhumjaithai secretary-general and a party-listed MP.
Nevertheless, the NIDA academic said, the Election Commission is legally obliged to file a fresh lawsuit in pursuit of a dissolution of the Bhumjaithai on grounds of their receiving cash donations for the party from the scandal-ridden construction firm.
All parties are prohibited by law from receiving donations in cash from corporate entities or individuals who may have been suspected of having earned the money in illicit fashion or having laundered it or receiving over 10 million baht from an individual.
Saksayam had been accused of handing over the donation when he was transport minister, allegedly awarding the construction firm varied construction projects mostly run by government agencies in northeastern provinces.
“If the same criteria for the Constitutional Court’s handling of a dissolution lawsuit earlier filed against the Future Forward on similar grounds of contentious cash donations were eventually applied, the Bhumjaithai would likely be dissolved as well,” Pichai said.
Former Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had been ruled guilty of donating 191 million baht in cash to the dissolved progressive party, albeit allegedly taken for granted as a “loan”.
CAPTIONS:
Top: De facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob, centre, flanked by his brother Saksayam Chidchob, left, and party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, right. Photo: Matichon Weekly
Front Page: Anutin Charnvirakul, left, and Saksayam Chidchob, right. Photo: Matichon Weekly
Bhumjaithai Party signage. Credit: Thai Rath
Also read: Dissolution of Bhumjaithai sought over Saksayam’s convicted wrongdoing
Saksayam resigns as Bhumjaithai secretary-general, MP
People equally divided over anti-Thaksin protests erupting: NIDA Poll
Police chasing 2 Indian suspects in dismemberment of Myanmar man
PM vows to go ahead with Land Bridge project
Human Rights Watch report flags how dying rule of law will hit travel & tourism
